TarotBlogHop: Embrace the Dark

Dark Side of the Winter Solstice. What a lovely topic Joanne Sprott has given us for our Yule Blog Hop (for which I am late, late late!) Our ancestors naturally slowed down this time of year since it was harder to move because of the weather. There was also not as much need to move since there were no crops to harvest and the animals were harder to hunt. If they hadn’t put up what they needed by now, they were going to struggle to make it to spring.

These days we don’t have that seasonal urgency to put up, put away, put aside. We can just drive to the grocery store for winter tomatoes (ewwwww) or that pound of hamburger. Our societal needs have changed. Some for the better (no need to get up at 4am to milk the cow, gather the eggs) but some, I think, for the worse.

We don’t slow down any more. We don’t stop to regroup. And I think the nervous, anxious people we’ve spawned into are a product of that “not stopping.”

So the Darkest Day is upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere. You lot down south are looking at the Longest Day, I know. What does it mean any more to honor the dark when we have light whenever we want. A flick of a switch illuminates our world. We don’t have to fear the dark, but I think we’ve also lost some of the respect we need for the dark as well.

Dark is necessary. Quiet is a must. I’ve begun a meditation practice (17 days into it) via an app called Calm. It’s free (you can upgrade to a subscription if you want all the bells and whistles.)

Each morning there is a short (10-12 minute) piece called the Daily Calm. I’m finding it very useful. I’ve been working on changing some habits to embrace quiet. Daily writing was first. Now daily meditation. I hope to add daily yoga.

Embracing the dark for me means nurturing the quiet places. I yearn for silence so hard it hurts some times. One of my greatest joys is sitting. Just sitting. Not listening to music or any ambient sound like the TV or even white noise. Quiet moments of my butt on the couch just being.

I have a spread to share with you. I hope you will try it out and let me know what you think.

EMBRACING THE DARK

Gathering the Dark–what can I do to gather more Dark, more quiet, more silence?

Wrapping myself in the Dark–how can I immerse myself more fully into the Darkness of this time?

Embracing the Dark–how can I completely celebrate the gifts I receive from this working in the Dark?

Message from the Dark–what is the most important message I need to receive from the Dark?

I hope you have enjoyed my Winter Solstice Tarot Blog Hop. Please hop forward or backwards to visit my neighbors. Remember that comments and shares are a gift you can give to us.

Author: TarotByArwen

Arwen is the editor-in-chief and owner of The Cartomancer. This print and digital magazine is devoted to divination. You can learn more here: http://www.thecartomancer.com. Arwen is also the author of The Fairy Tale Lenormand, Secrets of the Mystic Grove, Bianca Niero Tarot and more (all USGamesInc publications.) As the past president of the American Tarot Association (2007-2014), Arwen worked with an actively engaged board to rekindle that organization. Her true calling is as a Professional Joy Seeker. She co-creates with her clients to help them find their joy again. "Seek joy, y'all" is her motto.
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I’m definitely going to try this spread for sure! Down south here we are getting the heat, the longest day but it is also a surprisingly dark time because the Sun can be as harsh a mistress as the Winter. But even in the heat you can explore the darkness and enjoy the feeling of being alone in the quiet which is nice.

You make a lot of important points here, Arwen. I think this spread looks great and would be especially helpful for people who are contemplating a meditation practice but not sure how it would fit into their lives, or what might be the deeper benefit of it. I’ll be sure to send people this direction to find those answers!

Wonderful insights, Arwen. I totally agree that our post-modern first-world societies have totally forgotten about pausing to rest mind, body, and spirit. There was recently a bit on the news about how folks aren’t taking their paid vacation time. Paid, mind you! Sigh! I shall definitely use your post as a incentive to pause and be more often. 🙂

What a good spread! How to lead a darker life in bright night city (for me) <3 I need this!!! I have plans to move someplace where I don't have to hustle and I can literally have a black out on a new moon except the stars…*sigh*…

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